finesse

[ fi-ness ]

noun

1. extreme delicacy or subtlety in action, performance, skill, discrimination, taste, etc.

   Synonyms: sensibility, sensitivity, circumspection, diplomacy, tact

2. skill in handling a difficult or highly sensitive situation; adroit and artful management:

   exceptional diplomatic finesse.

   Synonyms: sensibility, sensitivity, circumspection, diplomacy, tact

3. a trick, artifice, or stratagem.
4. Bridge, Whist. an attempt to win a trick with a card while holding a higher card not in sequence with it, in the hope that the card or cards between will not be played.

verb (used without object)

, fi·nessed, fi·ness·ing.

1. to use finesse or artifice.
2. to make a finesse at cards.

verb (used with object)

, fi·nessed, fi·ness·ing.

1. to bring about by finesse or artifice.
2. to avoid; circumvent.
3. to make a finesse with (a card).
4. to force the playing of (a card) by a finesse.

finesse

/ fɪˈnɛs /

noun

1. elegant skill in style or performance
2. subtlety and tact in handling difficult situations
3. bridge whist an attempt to win a trick when opponents hold a high card in the suit led by playing a lower card, hoping the opponent who has already played holds the missing card
4. a trick, artifice, or strategy

verb

1. to manage or bring about with finesse
2. to play (a card) as a finesse

Word History and Origins

Origin of finesse¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English: “degree of excellence or purity,” from Middle French, from fin fine ¹ + -esse -ice

Word History and Origins

Origin of finesse¹

C15: from Old French, from fin fine, delicate; see fine ¹

Example Sentences

With three easy-to-adjust focusing distances, this camera can capture close-up portraits of friends hanging around the campfire, medium-range objects between three and six feet away, and long-range landscape photos with equal finesse.

From Outside Online

One of the best surfers to grace the sport, Gilmore, like Florence, is blessed with an uncanny ability to surf with the same level of power and finesse, no matter how big or small the waves.

From Outside Online

If you’re starting from square one, however, you’ll likely want to take advantage of its auto-leveling and equalization, which requires a few more connections, a handful of software installations, and just a bit of finesse.

From Popular-Science

Carter is at his best causing havoc in front of the net, a perfect complement to the finesse game of Sidney Crosby and another net-front presence to take some of the pressure off Jake Guentzel.

From Washington Post

As with any move that relies on some sort of finesse, there’s a fine line between punishing opponents and bailing them out.

From FiveThirtyEight

He affected an anchorman finesse in apologizing for “past mistakes” as a Ku Klux Klan leader.

From The Daily Beast

The best whiskies are made with finesse and the same attention to detail and mindfulness as the finest teas or sushi.

From The Daily Beast

A lot of Republican candidates are trying to finesse the establishment-Tea Party Maginot Line and be both things to all people.

From The Daily Beast

Whereas the first three seasons were subtle, there is a decided lack of finesse here.

From The Daily Beast

Phoenix conveys the ambiguities of his character with great finesse.

From The Daily Beast

The same game of finesse was played at his own table; for there De Patinos had for some time assumed an air of civility.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet the word vagrant is a misnomer in this city, where economy has reached a finesse that is marvelous.

From Project Gutenberg

His action was simply the action of a strong, business-like, and patriotic man, forgetful of finesse.

From Project Gutenberg

A servant full of finesse and irreproachable in appearance, he was of the greatest service to his master.

From Project Gutenberg

With much finesse Duret showed this young woman the character of M. de la Baudraye in its true light.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acumen
• competence
• guile
• quickness
• savvy
• skill
• sophistication
• subtlety
• tact